|
Species
Information
- kudzu
- Pueraria
montana (Lour.) Merr. var. lobata (Willd.)
Maesen & S. Almeida
- USDA
Symbol: PUMOL
- Oregon
Noxious Weed Designation: A,T
- Pictures
ALERT: PLEASE CALL 1-866-INVADER IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE FOUND THIS SPECIES
Identification: Perennial; flowers mid-summer. High climbing vine, very often completely covering trees forming "kudzu sculptures." Stems up to 4 inches in diameter, brown and smooth, eventually turning finely scaly. Young stems fuzzy. Leaves compound with individual leaflets 3 to 4 inches long, oval or nearly heart shaped and may be lobed and fuzzy. Flowers hanging clusters of pea-like, purple to red flowers, with a grape-like smell.
Impacts: Kudzu is a highly aggressive extremely fast-growing invasive plant which is very expensive to control once established. Kudzu covers all other plants in its path resulting in single species stands, eliminating native species and natural diversity. Trees covered by kudzu become damaged by its weight during ice events or die from insufficient light. Vines can also bring down power lines and collapse older buildings. Heavily infested lands become unusable for timber production or agriculture with estimated economic costs attributed to kudzu at $50 million annually. Three known locations in Oregon have been controlled.
Biological
Controls: Biological control agents are not used on "A" listed weeds in Oregon. This weed is being managed for eradication.
Oregon
Maps of Kudzu Distribution
Links:
USDA
Plants Database information on kudzu
GRIN
Database information on kudzu
Oregon Department
of Agriculture information on kudzu
|
